NHL roundup: Coyotes lose game, and an owner?

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Nail Yakupov scored a power-play goal at 3:52 of overtime and the Edmonton Oilers beat the Coyotes, 2-1, Wednesday.

Associated Press
January 31, 2013

Nail Yakupov scored a power-play goal at 3:52 of overtime and the Edmonton Oilers fought back after giving up a goal late in regulation to beat the Coyotes at Phoenix, 2-1, Wednesday night.

The Oilers appeared to be on their way to helping Devan Dubnyk (27 saves) to his fifth career shutout, but put their goalie in a bind when Sam Gagner was called for a penalty and the Coyotes pulled goalie Chad Johnson.

Nick Johnson took advantage, whipping a shot past Dubnyk’s glove side with 19 seconds left in regulation after teammate Radim Vrbata failed on a backhander.

Yakupov ended it in overtime, punching in a rebound after a shot by Ales Hemsky caromed off teammate Taylor Hall.

Dubnyk stopped 27 shots and Lennart Petrell scored his first goal since Feb. 27, helping the Oilers end a five-game losing streak to Phoenix.

Chad Johnson had 19 saves after notching his first NHL shutout two days earlier.

Coming off their best game of the season, the Coyotes were in a familiar position: Wondering what will happen after the latest chapter in their ownership saga.

Since a new lease agreement with the City of Glendale was reworked in November, it appeared former San Jose Sharks CEO Greg Jamison would have no trouble buying the team from the NHL before a Jan. 31 deadline. Jamison told the Arizona Republic this week that he expected to have the deal done in time.

But on Wednesday, a league official told the Associated Press it was unlikely Jamison would have the money or investors he needs to purchase the team before the midnight Thursday deadline, leaving the team in limbo yet again.

Of course, the Coyotes have played well against the backdrop of uncertainty in the past, reaching the playoffs each of the past three seasons — making the Western Conference finals for the first time last year — while potential owners come and go.

Senators 5, Canadiens 1 — Daniel Alfredsson scored his first goal of the season as host Ottawa routed Montreal.

Jim O'Brien, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Phillips and Chris Neil also scored for the Senators, and Craig Anderson had 31 saves in his 300th career game. Tomas Plekanec scored for Montreal, which had won four straight.

Wild 3, Blackhawks 2 — Matt Cullen scored 90 seconds into the game and again in a shootout to lift host Minnesota, handing Chicago its first loss in seven games this season.

Cullen’s snap shot in the third round slipped between Corey Crawford’s legs, and Patrick Sharp then hit the crossbar for Chicago. The Blackhawks and San Jose were the only teams to start 6-0 this year. The Wild improved to 4-1 at home.

Canucks 3, Avalanche 0 — Backup Roberto Luongo made 24 saves for his first win of the season for host Vancouver.

. . .

Rangers captain Ryan Callahan will be sidelined 10-14 days after hurting his shoulder in New York’s victory over Philadelphia Tuesday night.

Callahan, who scored the winning goal, against the Flyers, was injured early in the third period during a scuffle with Philadelphia forward Max Talbot.

. . .

The NHL suspended Islanders forward Colin McDonald for two games after a boarding incident involving Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy on Tuesday in the Islanders’ 4-1 win at the Consol Energy Center.